First the good news..... I finally found enough larger sized shoe boxes! What a relief!!!

Okay ladies, I need some opinions. I have about a dozen packs of Kotex Lightdays Liners (maximum protection), that I got free with coupons, and was wondering if I could/should pack some in the 10-14yr old girls' shoe boxes. Does anyone pack feminine products in the older girls' shoe boxes? I remember seeing the commercials on TV before about how some girls in other countries miss school when they have their periods because they don't have feminine protection, so I was wondering if it would be okay to pack them. Do you think it would be inappropriate, or embarrassing for them? Should I "hide" them in a draw-string bag or something, so they won't be readily visible when they open the shoe box?

Also, I have a few packs of Hall's Defense (which is basically vitamin C in the form of hard candy) that I was wondering if I could put in the boxes. I know you're not suppose to pack medicine and such, but..... Would this fall into that catagory?

Any opinions or advice???

BTW, if you go to WM, make sure you check out the childrens' clearance really well. I've been finding some $1 shoes and clothing (shorts & T-shirts) lately. The shoes were marked $1, but some of the clothes were not. They also have an 18-pk of washclothes (fall colors) for $3.92, and a 15-pk (solids & stripes) on clearance for $3.

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No outfit is complete without cat hairs!

~~~MsMiser

If you are doing the shoe box charity that I am familiar with, everything gets reorganized at the central headquarters and the boxes repacked so all are approx. equal in value/content.

If there are things they don't want sent, they will be removed.

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Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.

E. Roosevelt

Suezz, that is not the case with OCC boxes. They only go through them to remove items that are not acceptable. They have a list of those on the website. If some boxes are lacking, they have extra things at the warehouse to supplement with.

MsMiser, I would not enclose those items, especially the cough drops. They are classified as medicinal.
I'm not sure the children would know what to do with the liners and it could be embarassing.

A note of blessing. Our church voted to pay the $7 donation on 35 of the boxes that 4 or us put together. I was also able to get 5 other people to do boxes.

Which group repacks everything and if I'm reading your post right - removes stuff I put in for MY child, and gives it to another child? I work really hard to make a great box, I'm all for them removing inappropriate things, and padding boxes with extras but I wouldn't want stuff I'd picked that was ok being removed.

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Meddle ye not in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crispy, and taste good with Ketchup!

I am sorry that I am not familiar with the OCC

I am referring to another shoebox based charity then... and the name escapes me... Is it Project Shoebox?

__________________
Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.

E. Roosevelt

Suezz, Slw1 is correct.
Operation Christmas Child is unique in the fact that the way you pack your box is the way the child receives it. It is a direct connection. A tiny small way to impact a child's life who is living in suffering and poverty.
A personal note or photo makes the connection complete. My dd who was able to help deliver boxes said that the children love that most of all.

So Slw1 is correct--the boxes get picked up at the collection center, then trucked to one of 5 processing centers around the country. There they take out the money for shipping, and then just check for items that are a problem (such as war toys, medicines, liquids, etc.). And then they are sealed and sent on their way overseas.

Now MsMiser, I have never packed feminine products. Why not give headquarters a call on that to be sure? I used to pack deodorant that I got for free and it was never listed on the good or bad list. I just saw recently that deodorant was listed as an ok item. (I know you already called on the camo clothes.)
I also saw the commercial about girls missing school because of their period, so I like to include panties in the older girls boxes, I never thought of feminine products. As far as embarrassment, I think missing school every month is worse. But headquarters would give you the best answer to that.

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Can someone direct me to the website for this?

Thanks!

peapie

Samaritan's Purse

Samaritan's Purse

This is the direct link, but I like the other one too.

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Thanks for the advice ladies. I couldn't find the 24-hour phone # when I made my post, so I thought I'd see if anyone here had ever included such items, or knew if they were allowed. I ended up calling the phone # they have listed on their site Thursday on my lunch break.

The Hall's Defense is a "no go" because it falls into the "no vitamins" category. However, the woman I spoke with said the feminine products were fine to include. I asked her if other people normally included those types of products, and she said, "Some do, but most people just don't think about it. They would come in useful, but whether or not you feel comfortable about including them is up to you. You could just include them and pray the Lord will have them go where they are needed." So, I think I will include them, but put them inside some type of drawstring bag so they won't be readily visible when they open their shoe box. Hopefully the other children will be so enthralled with their own shoe boxes that no one will even notice and it won't be an issue.

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__________________
No outfit is complete without cat hairs!

~~~MsMiser

Ok good, cause thats the one we use.

__________________
Meddle ye not in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crispy, and taste good with Ketchup!